CLASS NOTES FOR OCTOBER

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Assessing Texts to Plan for Explicit Comprehension Instruction

CLASSWORK
HOMEWORK
Making Sense of the Common Core Standards
  • First, view a 15 minute video from The Teaching Channel that overview the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts and Literacy
  • Then, download the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts (see Common Core Standards- Click on "Language Arts Standards" and keep a copy on your computer for reference in your teaching. This is an important document.
    • Read the Introduction (pages 1-8) and be prepared to discuss key points.
    • Also skim to notice the differences between the College and Career Anchor Standards (p. 10, 18, and 25) and the K-5 standards for Literature (p. 11-12), Informational Text (p. 13-14), Foundational Skills (p. 15-17), Writing (p. 19-21), Speaking & Listening (p. 23-24), Language (p. 26-29), and Complexity of Text (p. 31-32). Also notice how each set of standards changes from one grade level to the next.
    • Be prepared to discuss and apply these standards in a class activity.
  • Closely read Key Shifts in the Common Core Standards: English Language Arts to get a sense of how the standards differ from the standards that states currently use.

Thursday October 3, 2013 Aligning Texts and Tasks to Meet Common Core Standards

CLASSWORK
HOMEWORK

Tuesday, October 8, 2013 Teaching Comprehension with Fairy Tales


CLASSWORK
HOMEWORK
1. Question Answer Relationships: Reading Rockets Resource and Video (The video is an example of explicit instruction about how to effectively answer comprehension questions. The extra Math example helps you see how to adapt these ideas for answering math word problems)

2. Adjectives and Character Traits: Read Write Think Lesson (Charlotte is Wise, Patient, and Caring)
Explore the parts of the lesson on explicitly teaching about character traits as part of narrative text comprehension (also note the great resources available from Read Write Think!)

3. Read your The Magic Treehouse book and complete a character map for either Jack or Annie. Use the list of traits on page 2 to guide your thinking. Bring your character map to class on Thursday for a group activity.

Thursday, October 10, 2013 Teaching Comprehension with Narrative/Hybrid Texts


CLASSWORK
HOMEWORK
  • ** Finish Student Strategy Interview (due on Tuesday, October 15)
    Finish QAR worksheet (if not finished in class)
  • Read Cornett Chp. 5 (p. 140-151) to review narrative and expository text structures and the challenges of reading web-based texts
  • OPTIONAL: Coiro, J. (2005). Making sense of online text. Educational Leadership.

Tuesday, Oct. 15 Teaching Comprehension with Expository Texts & Text-Based Discussion

CLASSWORK
HOMEWORK
Class Activity: Modeling Text Based Discussion

  • Read Cornett Ch. 7 (Questioning to Promote Discussion)
  • Apply Ideas to complete two more pages in your Caves Planning Guide - Download Caves Text from Classwork column to view pages 10-13):

    • Homework Directions are on p. 5 (Your Turn)
    • If reading p. 10-11, complete p. 5-6 of planning guide
    • If reading p. 12-13, complete p. 7-8 of planning guide.
  • Post Your Quiz Question Ideas on Google Docs: What questions would YOU put on the quiz?

Thursday, Oct 17 Designing Text Based Discussions (I DO/WE DO) with Caves

CLASSWORK
HOMEWORK
Class Activity: Modeling Text Based Discussion

Tuesday, Oct 22 Designing Text Based Discussions (YOU DO) with Coral Reefs

CLASSWORK
HOMEWORK
Quiz 1

Class Activity: Work in groups to continue planning how each teacher will build on the page previous to draw connections across the pages

Thursday, Oct 24 Designing Text Based Discussions (You Do) with Coral Reefs

CLASSWORK
HOMEWORK
Class Activity: Continue working in groups to design the launch, discussion and post-reading response; be prepared to teach your lesson next class (Tuesday)

If extra time, work on CCSS Activity: Aligning Learning Objectives to Common Core Standards
Discussion Plan 2: Finalize plans for Coral Reefs Lesson with your group - practice your part and be prepared to teach your lesson next class (Tuesday)

Tuesday, Oct 29 Teaching Your Text-Based Discussion


CLASSWORK
HOMEWORK
Class Activity:
Teach Your Lessons!

Thursday, Oct. 31 Putting It All Together: Organizing for Comprehension Instruction

CLASSWORK
HOMEWORK
Class Slideshow: Organizing for Comprehension Instruction



Class Activity: Understanding Basal Readers and Differentiated Instruction

Theme Introduction

Common Text Selection (before reading groups)

1. Read Cornett, Ch. 8, p. 257-267 Fluency

2. Read Vasinda & McLead (2011) Reader's Theatre and Podcasting

3. Read Hollis Woods (p. 1-54), complete summary chart, and select/practice a favorite passage/paragraph to read aloud